January 24, 1999

President Bill Clinton visited Beebe (White County) to survey the damage from a devastating tornado that ripped through the town three days earlier. Damages were estimated in the tens of millions of dollars. Beebe High School was severely damaged, and the just-completed $2.5 million junior high was totally destroyed. Several homes and businesses and two churches were obliterated. Hundreds of homes were damaged, and two fatalities were attributed to the storm. The high school gym was leveled shortly after being evacuated, though no one was injured.